Fixing question (now a sort of WIP)

Zeddedhed · 1 Jan 2014

I'm currently making up a curved bath panel for this bath:

The plan is to fix some stacked curved ply ribs to both the floor and the underside of the bath rim and then fix some flexi 6mm Oak veneered plywood to make the panel. It will be vertical, unlike the panel in the picture.
I've cut the ply ribs ready.
My question is how to best fix the flexi ply to the ribs. I want to keep it looking as minimalist as possible.
Would Titebond (the green bottle, waterproof I believe) be OK? Obviously it'll need to be under pressure as it dries.
Any ideas?

tim burr · 1 Jan 2014

Add blocks to the ply to give more surface area for glueing and I'd personally use polyeurathane glue for the bonding.
Ratchet cramps/straps will also be your friend for this one :wink:

AndyT · 2 Jan 2014

Don't forget that you might need to remove the bath panel to get at the plumbing.

There are good spring clips available for this sort of application but they might be hard to find. I've used Velcro pads glued and stapled to wood.

If your flexiply is too thin for fittings you could use curved blocks glued to the panel which would line up with curved blocks fixed to the floor, holding together with magnets.

A more conventional approach is to use mirror screws with chrome plated dome inserts, for a fixing which while not invisible does not look like an ugly screwhead.

hansonread · 3 Jan 2014

having fitted a few of these plastic bath pannels before, the majority of them seem to have very little in the way of anything fixing them to the bath and are pretty much free standing other than where they clip together on the back side.

Is this a commercial venture or a project for home? And were you hoping for compound curves in it or more like straight down from the top to bottom and curving around the thing?

Zeddedhed · 3 Jan 2014

Thanks to all for your advice and comments.
I've glued up the panel using ratchets, Titebond and Gorilla Glue (foamy stuff)
So far it seems to have worked OK, although it needs a few more hours in the clamps

The red sheet was there to protect the ply from the ratchet straps (and to soak up squeeze out and glue itself onto the whole damned thing - DOH!)

I'll let you know how it is when it's out of the clamps and installed.

Thanks guys